Confirmation from John Stott in 2009:
http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
My MicroMacro Discipleship, A missing DNA in Discipleship Development: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/07/introduction-micromacro-discipleship.html
Subject Shifting Devotion Method(Inspired by John Stott in 1991: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.com/2009/08/count-down-5-subject-shifting-devotion.html
Today's Reading: Nehemiah 9-10
Please read Nehemiah 9-10 and listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ would like to tell you before reading my Spiritual Journal below. If you would like to learn a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please read my “Count Down 5” from my Devotion on Fire blog:
You may click this link directly for the method: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
You may begin with a song to praise the Lord and complete you devotion by singing another praise song.
但 我 們 的 列 祖 行 事 狂 傲 ， 硬 著 頸 項 不 聽 從 你 的 誡 命 ；
不 肯 順 從 ， 也 不 記 念 你 在 他 們 中 間 所 行 的 奇 事 ， 竟 硬 著 頸 項 ， 居 心 背 逆 ， 自 立 首 領 ， 要 回 他 們 為 奴 之 地 。 但 你 是 樂 意 饒 恕 人 ， 有 恩 典 ， 有 憐 憫 ， 不 輕 易 發 怒 ， 有 豐 盛 慈 愛 的 神 ， 並 不 丟 棄 他 們 。
“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. 17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them."
Nehemiah 9:16-17
Please click the links to Nehemiah 9-10
What I got today from Jesus is: From arrogant, stiff-necked to worship and obey
Because of the faithful and courageous leadership of Nehemiah and Esra, all the Israelites had a corporate confession to God. They thanked God of how faithful He had been since the time of Abram, and how arrogant and stiff-necked they had been since the time of Moses.
They confessed their sins and their leaders signed a covenant on behalf of all the Israelites. This is a complete U-turn from the path of sin and darkness back to the path of righteousness and light.
Please take special note on the two actions they were going to change:
1. On their marriage: No marriage to those who were not Israelites any more.
2. Offerings: Willing to fulfill all the regulations of offerings according to God's commandments.
That's a complete change in the view of "money, sex and power". Have you got that?
1. Power: 9:16 "They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. " Powerful leaders to lead people against God's command.
2. Sex: all kinds of sinful sexual behaviour leading to the marriage to pagans.
3. Offerings: They stopped all those required offerings.
I aware that when some people have a negative view to their home church, the first thing they do is to cut their offerings. Start with 10%, then 20%, then 50% then 90%! Horrible!
If you are not arrogant and stiff-necked, how could you not let "money, power and sex" to destroy your relationship with God? Are you willing to tithe? Why you can not make your tithing? Why?
Because of the faithful and courageous leadership of Nehemiah and Esra, all the Israelites had a corporate confession to God. They thanked God of how faithful He had been since the time of Abram, and how arrogant and stiff-necked they had been since the time of Moses.
They confessed their sins and their leaders signed a covenant on behalf of all the Israelites. This is a complete U-turn from the path of sin and darkness back to the path of righteousness and light.
Please take special note on the two actions they were going to change:
1. On their marriage: No marriage to those who were not Israelites any more.
2. Offerings: Willing to fulfill all the regulations of offerings according to God's commandments.
That's a complete change in the view of "money, sex and power". Have you got that?
1. Power: 9:16 "They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. " Powerful leaders to lead people against God's command.
2. Sex: all kinds of sinful sexual behaviour leading to the marriage to pagans.
3. Offerings: They stopped all those required offerings.
I aware that when some people have a negative view to their home church, the first thing they do is to cut their offerings. Start with 10%, then 20%, then 50% then 90%! Horrible!
If you are not arrogant and stiff-necked, how could you not let "money, power and sex" to destroy your relationship with God? Are you willing to tithe? Why you can not make your tithing? Why?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to get rid of our arrogant and stiff-necked behaviour and get back to the path following you as our Lord, Saviour and King. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Please click this link to worship with us -
從心合一 Unity starts from Your Heart
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) Matt Redman
You may choose to follow my other daily blog:
Discipler 123 (Daily devotion using N.T. Wright's NT for Everyone as source)
http://discipler123.blogspot.ca/
Daily Devotion on Fire 2
(2 years plan -One year New Testament, one year Old Testament)
Daily Devotion on Fire
(3 years and 3 months plan, one chapter a day to finish reading the whole Bible):
Break.Build
(40 days daily devotion- First Baby Step for new Christians)
Emmanuel330
(40 weeks First Step Bible Study)
